CHANDIGARH: The Khap panchayats have demanded the BJP government in Haryana to bring legislation on Jat reservation in the ongoing Budget Session of the state Assembly with a warning that any delay on the issue may result in fresh protest. Jats are demanding the Other Backward Classes (OBC) status and many people lost their lives during the protest in February.
Meham Chaubasi Khap chief Tulsi Grewal told The Sunday Standard that the state government must bring appropriate legislation for Jat quota in this session. Failing which, they will launch protest. Grewal, however, said the final decision on the protest will be taken at a rally in Jhajjar on Sunday. Claiming that people from non-Jat communities also support the demand, he said more than 3,000 representatives from across 36 communities are expected to join the rally. Grewal also blamed ‘administrative inaction’ for the loss of lives and protest during the protest last month.
Another top Khap leader, Subedar Indra Singh, said, “We support the demand of Jats. The state should also cancel criminal cases against the protestors and compensation must be given to the families of those who died.” Singh is the chief of Satrol khap panchayat.
Meanwhile, All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti president Yashpal Malik said: “We will decide our next course of action only after the Haryana government does not act on the quota demand till March 31.”